Category: Uncategorized

The Fall Bundle from Indie Royale is now under way for only 4 days ! And 2 of the games in the bundle (from the total of 5), have a native GNU/Linux client !
The games are Oil Rush and Reprisal.
So here is your chance to get those 2 games at a low price.
And if you pay $8 and more, you also get a cool music album called 88:88.

About the gamesOil Rush
Oil Rush is a real-time naval strategy game based on group control. It combines the strategic challenge of a classical RTS with the sheer fun of Tower Defence. Fight the naval war between furious armies across the boundless waters of the post-apocalyptic world. Pump the ever-so-precious black gold by oil rigs, capture platforms and destroy the enemy in the sea and in the air. Be ingenious to unlock super technologies and quick to send your squads straight into the heat of the battle!

Reprisal
Created in homage to Populous, Reprisal lets you take control of a tribe, guiding them, building land and making them grow in number. Using special totem powers you can control nature itself unleashing its full fury on anyone that stands in your way. But be warned, other tribes may not take too kindly to your intentions and will put up a fight!

Desktop edition includes:
Enhanced full stereo chip tunes to knod along too, Unlockable challenge islands, Offline local storage and Enhanced full screen display features! It also includes a full standalone PC installer and Mac App version. A minimum screen resolution of 1024 X 768 required.

Fabled Fortress is a hybrid strategy game about building, managing, and defending the kingdom of your dreams against ruthless invaders.

While they currently using Unity3.5, they will upgrade to Unity4 when it officially ships. But as their game is planned to be finished at March it could be a problem to deliver a GNU/Linux port… However if you want this game to be ported to GNU/Linux, the developers asked to message them . With enough interest, they may commit to a GNU/Linux client.

Thank you for your interest in Fabled Fortress!Because the current version of our development platform, Unity 3D, doesn’t support Linux we haven’t listed this platform among our initial releases; however, the upcoming update of Unity 4 includes Linux support!Provided we get enough backers from the Linux community and there are no unforeseen issues moving from Unity 4 beta to release, we will strive to release on this platform. We hope this gives you the confidence to back the project.If you have any remaining questions or concerns, please feel free to respond.Thanks again for your support! It really makes a difference!fine Orange Games“

LGN:
“If you are going to upgrade to Unity4 which supports Linux, why not offer the Linux support so Linux gamers could pledge for your project ? (MANY other games that use Unity4 promised a Linux client…).

I mean, if you cannot promise it, then why should people pledge for a project they won’t even sure they could play later ?Thanks Maxim.”

The main issue is making sure that Unity 4 is live and not still in beta during our release in March. We take this stance because shipping on beta software could cause unforeseen problems and, in our view, we can deliver a better product after all the Unity 4 beta issues are resolved. We have decided not to upgrade to Unity 4 until it has officially shipped and is not still in beta.With that said, several of our backers have already requested Linux support and it is only a matter of time before we deliver this support. The only reason Linux support isn’t listed among the initial releases is because we want to make sure that Unity 4 is no longer in beta before committing to delivering in March.Why don’t you check back closer to the end of the project when we should hopefully have more details from Unity about the Unity 4 release date? Because of the overwhelming number of requests for Linux in the past few days, we are going to review when we can realistically offer this support without any issues.If you know of any others in the Linux community who are interested in adding this support, could you also have them send us a short message? This would really help reinforce adding Linux as an early release.

Thanks again for your support!fine Orange Games”

Kickstarter Intro

Fabled Fortress is a hybrid strategy game that allows you to build, manage, and defend the kingdom of your dreams. Rule your peasants, embark on quests for rare loot with fellow monarchs, and annihilate your friends’ kingdoms with apocalyptic spells and ruthless armies all before lunch! It’s good to be king.

Pedagogical Bundle feature 5 cross platform, educational games made by RyXeo.Those games are aimed for children and (some for) adults.If you have children and you want educational games on GNU/Linux – that’s the bundle for you.

The Games :

Mulot

Train your children to use the mouse with Mulot. Watching the image appear gradually allows them to develop their vocabulary by discussing what the image represents as it appears.

Fubuki game

If you like intellectual games then try our Fubuki. You can adjust the settings to challenge yourself to the maximum!

Mental Calculation

If you can’t imagine that homework could ever be a pleasure, test Calcul Mental (Mental Calculation).

Raconte-moi

The simple software game Raconte-Moi (Tell-Me) is designed for even the youngest pupils to use, yet it is also great for constructing quick presentations including pictures, text or recorded voices.

Coloriages

The graphic design work on our software bundle is exceptional, making it enjoyable to use. Your children will however have the chance to personalise their drawings with Coloriages (Colouring pictures).

Improve with only five games! Pedagogic Bundle features five innovative educational games. Name your price and train your children (or yourself) in mental calculation with Calcul Mental or Fubuki. Introduce your family pictures or create stories with Raconte-Moi and just keep your kids amused for a while with Mulot or Coloriage.

Pay what you want. If you bought all this awesomeness separately, it would cost over $135. But we’re letting you set the price!

Play on Windows, Mac*, and Linux*. Note that these games are absolutely cross-platform. Please be patient while the developers put the finishing touches to the English-speaking version as quickly as they can and don’t hesitate to contact us if you wish to contribute to this process.

Free updates for a year !

Support non profit organisation (abuledu.org) Choose how your purchase is divided: between the developers and a non profit organisation that promotes educational activities… And if you like this promotion, a tip to Pedagogic Bundle would be greatly appreciated!

Star Citizen is HUGE space game in developed with one of the best and detailed graphics we have ever seen to date. It’s being developed by Chris Roberts who brought us the legendary space games Wing Commander, Privateer and Freelance.

João Santos contacted Chris Roberts asking him about the possibility of a GNU/Linux version and he said that while a GNU/Linux version it’s high on their “wish list,” it will depend on community interest.Then João Santos asked him if a petition would help and he said it could help because : “it’d be good to know how many people really want a Linux version. I’m getting a LOT of requests for a Macintosh version, but not so much mention of Linux…”

So here is our chance to ask for a GNU/Linux version of this excellent to be, space game.

The developers are also raising funds to continue the development of the game (like a Kickstarter, but in their own website), the campaign ends in 30 days – but till the GNU/Linux client is not confirmed, I won’t propose to donate to this project.
This why we have this petition first.

Heroes of Newerth (HoN) from S2Games is a DOTA like game that like all of their games supported GNU/Linux. Sadly the GNU/Linux client was always a bit behind the Windows one, but now after the release of patch 2.6.22 they are finally in par.

I’m heavily addicted to HoN and for me the GNU/Linux client was always stable as a rock, while the Windows users crashed all the time – I kept playing.

We are proud to announce a MAJOR patch for our Mac & Linux game clients. For a while now, as our Windows client received features and updates, our Mac and Linux clients have been slowly falling behind. While we always strive to make sure Mac and Linux stay updated and compatible with the latest patches, we haven’t always been able to keep them feeling as feature-complete and polished as our Windows client.

Maintaining separate clients is a LOT of work – it really requires some dedicated attention (mostly from programming) to keep things running in top shape. Through the hustle and bustle of developing the game as a whole, it’s easy, if not paying proper attention, for small bugs to crop up here and there, building up over time.

A few months ago we filled a key programming position of a dedicated Mac + Linux programmer (along with fleshing out our QA staff) to give these clients the attention and time they deserve, and we couldn’t be happier with the results (up to DOUBLE the performance in some cases on Mac). We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to not only fix up the current client, but to make sure it is among the top performing native games for both Mac and Linux operating systems (and certainly the best client in the genre). This upcoming patch not only brings them up to speed, but makes sure they look and feel great, and have all the latest features that the Windows client has.

S2 has always proudly supported Mac and Linux for our games, even when sometimes it didn’t seem economically feasible. While some other companies may choose to take the “easy” route and drop support of these clients, we simply couldn’t accept that, we were determined to redouble our efforts.

Highlights contained in this patch:

VASTLY improved performance and stability (up to 2x the performance of the current retail client)

Awesomium Integration (HoN TV, guides, player ladder ,etc)

Fancy new updater (similar to the one released recently for the Windows client – generally improves reliability of updating)

New installer (does away with the disk-image method that was causing some update issues on Mac)

Many miscellaneous bug fixes and stability improvements (fixed the most common causes of crashes, skybox reflections now work, and lots of other stuff)

Retina display support

Some of the updates here were incompatible with Mac OS X 10.4, and as such, we have dropped support of it. Keep in mind this is just the mac/linux highlights of the upcoming patch, there’s other goodies that’ll equally affect PC + Mac/Linux.

We’re excited to bring you these updates and to continue giving these clients the love and attention they deserve to continue running at top notch. If you have any Mac or Linux gamer friends, now is the time to get them hooked on HoN!

If you still haven’t tried this game, even after it went free-2-play – PLEASE DON’T ! This game is heavily addictive and will consume your life.You have been warned !

Saga Kingdoms is a revolutionary real time MMORTS, focusing on questing and empire building.They say it’s what Star Craft 2 could have been (in terms of gameplay). It will be free to play (as it seems from the rewards), but you can pay for additional content. Currently the project managed to get ~$8,600 of the $100k goal ,with 29 days to go. From past experiences it’s very hard to get the funds for “free to play” games and I personally doubt that this project will reach it’s goal (although there is always hope).

SAGA was designed to show what is possible in an RTS when it is made for the players and not by the big studios who may be too scared to try something new. We asked ourselves questions such as, What if the world never reset? What if we could figure out how to balance not just two or three factions but six? and most importantly, What if every play session enhanced your virtual empire and not just a rating?

Most RTS games we’ve ever played focus on player vs. player combat. This is understandable because creating 10 maps and relying on players to provide variety is much less time consuming than creating 600 quests. SAGA, however, embraces that players love a rich story and while PvP has its place and is certainly not an afterthought in our design, we felt it was a lot more fun going on quests not just alone but with groups of friends.

In Saga Kingdoms each player will control a capital city that will serve as the seat of their power, however we have greatly expanded on this concept by giving each player a full Island as a starting point. In addition we plan to allow players to take over both resources and outposts on the main continent as their empire expands.

Similar to SAGA, Saga Kingdoms will feature hundreds of quests to test your skill. While some quests do have prerequisites that you must best, you can always go back and do old favorites for loot and XP.

The power of our new engine means we can create much grander quests that can be enjoyed by large groups of friends.These epic battles will be much more difficult but we promise the rewards will be worth it.

Players will be able to choose from one of six factions, each with a unique look and play style.

Primary Race: Elves

The oldest of the races, the elves have long ago learned to live in harmony with Gaia – the spirit of the world itself. Through their allegiance and honor of Her, they have learned to master Her powers, and now control the most destructive forces of Nature. As warriors, they possess terrific skill, and have made strange allies in some of the oldest creatures on Gaia, including treants and elementals.

Primary Race: Orcs and Ogres

The orcs and ogres live for war. They have long pursued it, and have fashioned their living around it. They have traded refinement for mass, and like a blunt instrument, will bludgeon the life out of their enemies. Their spells and abilities are targeted inward, purposed with instilling their warriors with greater power in combat. Individually, their warriors are skillful, en masse: terrifying.

Primary Race: Giants and Humans

Noble, powerful and indomitable – the forces of Light are truly magnificent to behold. Their ancient civilization has reached a glorious age of wisdom and refinement, and their armies have long ago mastered the art of war. They are a balanced and formidable force, able to draw on heavily armored soldiers and powerful magic alike to crush their enemies into submission.

Primary Race: Dwarves

Dwarves are particularly skilled in the arts of mechanical engineering. Hidden deep in their mountain hideaways, they have created terrible machines of war and destruction. In all their tinkering though, they have lost the art of magic and must rely on their own ingenuity and cunning.

Primary Race: Dark Elves

The dark elves are the masters of magic. They have studied many dark arts and have mastered the secrets of daemonology, allowing them to conjure up horrible beasts. By tapping into the powers of the Underworld, they have possession of mighty spells, with which they terrorize their enemies.

Primary Race: Undead

When the god of the Undead was all but defeated he called upon his powers to bring to power the newest of the factions to gain a foothold on Gaia. Adept casters, the undead use their powers of decay to manipulate the course of battle and weaken their foes while gargantuan undead abominations rush forth to devour their prey.

We love variety in most RTS games. Trying to find the perfect balance of troops is an integral part of the strategy. As difficult as it was to balance 6 factions, that task was nothing compared to trying to create over 100 distinct troop types. Saga Kingdoms will bring back many of the old favorites and will commit to creating many more in upcoming free content expansions.
Saga Kingdoms is a Free-To-Play Collectible game

Collecting troops was one of the best received and unique features of SAGA. Booster packs which can now be purchased for gold farmed in game will provide a random assortment of troops. Nothing beats the excitement of ripping open a new pack or the exhilaration of finding a dragon as your rare card.

Every aspect of your empire can grow in power. This means that every play session will reward you with some type of progress.

Buildings will be constructed, which will provide additional benefits.

Research will reward you with new abilities and benefits.

All troops will gain experience during combat, making them more powerful.

Magic items will be found during quests and crafted in your city.

Every quest completed and booster purchased gives the possibility of new and exciting troops to enhance your army.

Even logging in for just a few seconds and collecting resources brings you closer to purchasing that next building upgrade or booster pack.

Each unit in your army will be led by a hero as detailed as any character in an MMO. Heroes can gain levels, learn spells and possess a range of abilities and bonuses that they confer to the unit they lead.

We’re also expanding the number of available heroes slightly from the dozen available in SAGA to many hundreds. (OK maybe more than slightly)

Not only will be we able to create items with a larger variety of abilities, but Saga Kingdoms will feature many thousands more magic items since Heroes can equip armor in multiple slots in addition to weapons and trinkets, rather than the limited 2 slots in SAGA.

Since Units in Saga Kingdoms are built around heroes not troop types, you will have much more freedom when designing your units. Each troop type will possess a special ability, allowing you to have much finer control over the type of army you field. For example, if halberdiers grant increased damage to the whole unit and swordsmen grant increased armor, a unit consisting of 15 halberdiers and 5 swordsmen will play very differently than one with 15 swordsmen and 5 halberdiers. Adding a hero who brings its own set of unit enhancements means an unlimited set of strategies.

Using the Unity engine means being able to do battle on a PC, Mac, or even using Linux. While the client will be available for all of these platforms, developing in Unity means that when you’re at work or school and can’t resist checking your empire or doing a quick quest, Saga Kingdoms will also be playable in a browser. In addition, developing in Unity opens the possibility for a mobile version.

We have been working on Saga Kingdoms for over a year. Some of our players have even had a chance to try the Alpha version.

We can field troops, move them around, and cause havoc to our enemies as well as build a city. The funds raised on Kickstarter will help us port the remaining SAGA features, finish our quest design tools and make the necessary changes to magic items and heroes to bring Saga Kingdoms to the next level.

Most of you probably think about Source as only a game engine – but Chris Smith is actually working on a web series called “Aura” that is made with Source SDK and other tools such as Faceposer – which is used for the lip syncing onto character models, Garry’s mod – for backgrounds and Sony Vegas for editing.

Chris Smith told me he wanted to be a director and that he is working on the series called “Aura” for 6 months now, and in my opinion the directing part of this trailer is very well made (although the graphics could be better – but Chris said he will improve 😉 ).

Usually I don’t post about series and movies, but this time I wanted to do something different as it is related to GNU/Linux in some way.

We all wondered why this game never had a GNU/Linux client although it supported MacOS and used OpenGL….so it finally comes to GNU/Linux – the excellent hack-n-slash game Torchlight is in this bundle !

In this addicting fantasy action RPG, take on the role of a lone hero who uses brawn and magic to hack and slash their way through intense crowds of baddies while collecting awesome gear, loot, and skills. Set in the mining town of Torchlight, the hero sets out to explore dungeons and labyrinths to uncover a dark tale surrounding a mystical mineral known as Ember.

Suit up as John Rochard, the toughest man and miner in the galaxy. In this critically acclaimed side-scrolling sci-fi platformer, John Rochard must master the use of gravity, weight, and matter to overcome various obstacles and puzzles in his quest against an intergalactic archaeological conspiracy.

Rochard is also the premiere title to debut the Unity game engine on Linux! Unity powers a number of amazing titles and their presence on Linux can only broaden the horizons for cross-platform gaming everywhere.

Shatter is a fresh take on brick-breakers, adding new physics-based concepts to alter the trajectory of every ball in play. Combined with an amazing soundtrack by electronic musician Module and intense boss battles, Shatter combines fantastic music with tight gameplay and frantic action.

Explore the stars, outfit your own ships, and engage in intense combat in this top down space shooter by MinMax Games. Created by a two-man team, Space Pirates and Zombies is reminiscent of classic top down shooters then combined with modern elements like physics-based combat and randomly generated galaxies. Also, zombies.

In this liquid-manipulating puzzle platformer by Strange Loop Games, take on the role of Arkwright, the inventor of liquid-comprised automatons called Fluros, originally used throughout the world to make life easier for all. When the Fluros start causing random chaos, it’s up to Arkwright to step up and take command of his invention gone awry. Vessel is built upon an optimized “liquid simulation” featuring flowing water, scalding lava, steam, and more, making each puzzle a unique experience.

*Please note that the finishing touches for Vessel’s Mac and Linux debut are still being completed and should be ready in 24-72 hours. Additionally, Vessel does not have an external soundtrack like the other five games.

The world has been corrupted with dust and filth, and it’s up to a handful of acrobatic janitors to win the war on grime. In this frenetic, award-winning platformer by Hitbox Team, sweep your way through over fifty levels of wall rebounding, double jumping endurance runs where finesse matters as much as dust destruction. Vault your brooms even higher as you share and view replays online to compete for the ultimate speed runs, and watch as your dustpan runneth over when you build your own worlds and share them online with the included map editor.

Dustforce is the winner of the $100,000 Grand Prize at the Third Independent Game Developers Competition at the 2010 Game Developers Conference Online.

Six mind-blowing games. Humble Indie Bundle 6 features six fantastic titles and five breathtaking soundtracks. Name your price and dive into the critically acclaimed action-RPG Torchlight; the rugged sci-fi action platformer Rochard; physics-based brick breaker Shatter; top down space combat sim Space Pirates and Zombies; and steampunk puzzle platformer Vessel. Customers who beat the average price will also get the incredible frantic acrobatic platformer, Dustforce!

Pay what you want. If you bought all this awesomeness separately, it would cost upwards of $86. But we’re letting you set the price!

Play on Windows, Mac*, and Linux* (system requirements here). Note that this is the debut for all of the Linux versions of the games. Please be patient while the developers fix any 1.0 bugs as quickly as they can, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you run into any issues. *Please note that the finishing touches for Vessel’s Mac and Linux debut are still being completed and should be ready in 24-72 hours.

Support vital charities. Choose how your purchase is divided: between the developers, the Child’s Play Charity, or the Electronic Frontier Foundation. And if you like this promotion, a tip to Humble Bundle would be greatly appreciated!